Opportunity Information: Apply for RFA DA 10 005

  • The National Institutes of Health in the education health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Targeted Library Synthesis and Screening at Novel Targets for Potential Drug Addiction Treatments and Research Tools (R21/R33)" and is now available to receive applicants.
  • Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.279 Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Sep 17, 2009 and posted on Sep 17, 2009.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Dec 4, 2009. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $250,000.00 in funding.
  • Eligible applicants include: County governments Private institutions of higher education Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education City or township governments Public and State controlled institutions of higher education For profit organizations other than small businesses Small businesses Independent school districts State governments Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Special district governments.
  • Other Eligible Applicants include the following Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government Faith based or Community based Organizations Hispanic serving Institutions Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized) Non domestic (non U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) Regional Organizations Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) U.S. Territory or Possession.
Apply for RFA DA 10 005

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Opportunity Summary:

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released this funding opportunity to push forward early-stage discovery of new drug candidates and research tools relevant to substance use disorders. The core idea is to support projects that can design and synthesize focused, targeted chemical libraries and then screen those compounds against novel or emerging biological targets tied to addiction. The goal is twofold: first, to help generate promising starting points for future medications to treat drug addiction, and second, to create central nervous system (CNS)-active research tools that can be used to validate potential medication targets in animal models of addiction. In practice, that means the program is looking for teams that can connect medicinal chemistry (building relevant compounds) with screening and pharmacology (testing them in assays that meaningfully inform addiction biology).

The award uses the NIH R21/R33 mechanism, described as a Phased Innovation Award. That structure is meant to support a project that begins with an exploratory, proof-of-concept phase (R21) and, if milestones are met, transitions into a second phase (R33) that expands or advances the work. The emphasis on a phased approach signals that NIDA expects clear go/no-go criteria, measurable milestones, and a plan that reduces risk by demonstrating feasibility before moving into more resource-intensive development. The announcement is centered on targeted library synthesis and screening, so applicants would be expected to justify why the chosen chemical space and screening strategy are well matched to the proposed addiction-relevant target and how the resulting hits will be triaged into higher-quality leads or tool compounds.

Financially, NIH committed a total of $2,000,000 to this request for applications (RFA) and anticipated making about 5 to 6 awards. The listed award ceiling is $250,000. The opportunity does not require cost sharing or matching funds. The funding opportunity number is RFA-DA-10-005, and it is categorized as a discretionary grant in the broad area of education and health, associated with CFDA number 93.279 (Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs). The announcement was posted on September 17, 2009, with an application closing date of December 4, 2009, and it was archived on January 4, 2010.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of organizations: public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, with some distinctions), for-profit organizations (including small businesses), and multiple levels of government entities (state, county, city/township, special districts), as well as independent school districts and eligible housing authorities. The eligibility language also specifically includes a range of mission-focused and underrepresented-serving institutions and entities, such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, tribal governments and tribal organizations, faith-based or community-based organizations, regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and even non-U.S. (foreign) organizations, along with eligible federal agencies. That wide eligibility aligns with the program’s translational focus, since discovery efforts often involve multidisciplinary collaborations spanning chemistry, screening platforms, animal models, and clinical relevance.

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at bridging a common gap in addiction therapeutics: having strong biological hypotheses and targets but not enough high-quality chemical matter to test those targets rigorously or to launch a credible medication development path. By funding targeted synthesis and screening tied to novel addiction-related targets, NIDA is trying to generate both candidate starting points for therapies and well-characterized CNS-active compounds that can serve as research tools to validate targets in vivo. The full announcement and official requirements were provided through the NIH grants portal link included in the notice, and technical access questions were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts listed in the posting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity trying to support?

This NIDA (NIH) funding opportunity is intended to advance early-stage discovery of new drug candidates and research tools relevant to substance use disorders. It focuses on projects that design and synthesize focused, targeted chemical libraries and then screen those compounds against novel or emerging biological targets tied to addiction.

What are the main goals of the program?

The program has two stated goals: (1) generate promising starting points for future medications to treat drug addiction, and (2) create central nervous system (CNS)-active research tools that can be used to validate potential medication targets in animal models of addiction.

What kinds of activities or project components does NIDA expect to see?

Based on the description, NIDA is looking for teams that connect medicinal chemistry (designing and synthesizing relevant compounds) with screening and pharmacology (testing compounds in assays that meaningfully inform addiction biology). The opportunity is centered on targeted library synthesis and screening.

What does "targeted chemical library" mean in the context of this opportunity?

In this announcement, the emphasis is on creating focused, targeted sets of compounds (a chemical library) designed around a specific biological target or target class relevant to addiction, rather than broad, untargeted compound collections.

What types of biological targets are in scope?

The opportunity is framed around novel or emerging biological targets tied to addiction and substance use disorders. Applicants are expected to align their chosen target(s) with addiction relevance and justify why the screening strategy and chemical space match the target.

What is the funding mechanism for this program?

The award uses the NIH R21/R33 mechanism, described as a Phased Innovation Award. It is designed to start with an exploratory, proof-of-concept phase (R21) and, if milestones are met, transition into a second phase (R33) to expand or advance the work.

How does the phased R21/R33 structure affect how an application should be planned?

The phased approach signals an expectation for clear go/no-go criteria and measurable milestones. The R21 phase is meant to demonstrate feasibility and reduce risk, with the transition to R33 depending on meeting the defined milestones.

What kind of milestones or decision points are expected?

The opportunity highlights the need for measurable milestones and clear go/no-go criteria. This implies that applicants should define specific milestones that demonstrate feasibility in the R21 phase and support a justified transition into the more advanced R33 phase.

How are screening results expected to be used?

The description indicates applicants should explain how screening hits will be triaged into higher-quality leads or tool compounds, linking screening outcomes to follow-up steps that strengthen chemical matter for medication-starting points or CNS-active research tools.

What is meant by "CNS-active research tools" here?

In this context, CNS-active research tools are well-characterized compounds that act in the central nervous system and can be used to validate potential medication targets in animal models of addiction.

How much total funding is available through this RFA?

NIH committed a total of $2,000,000 to this request for applications (RFA).

How many awards does NIH expect to make?

The announcement anticipated approximately 5 to 6 awards.

What is the award ceiling listed in the notice?

The listed award ceiling is $250,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. The opportunity states that cost sharing or matching funds are not required.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is RFA-DA-10-005.

What CFDA program is this associated with?

This opportunity is associated with CFDA 93.279, Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs.

What type of grant is this categorized as?

It is categorized as a discretionary grant in the broad area of education and health.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

The announcement was posted on September 17, 2009, and the application closing date was December 4, 2009.

Is this opportunity still active?

No. The notice indicates it was archived on January 4, 2010.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is broad and includes: public and private institutions of higher education; nonprofit organizations (including those with and without 501(c)(3) status, with distinctions noted); for-profit organizations (including small businesses); state, county, and city/township governments; special district governments; independent school districts; and eligible housing authorities.

Are underrepresented-serving institutions and mission-focused entities included in eligibility?

Yes. The eligibility language specifically includes institutions and organizations such as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions, tribal governments and tribal organizations, and faith-based or community-based organizations, among others.

Can regional organizations, U.S. territories, or non-U.S. organizations apply?

Yes. The eligibility description includes regional organizations, U.S. territories or possessions, and non-U.S. (foreign) organizations, and also references eligible federal agencies.

Why does the program emphasize multidisciplinary collaborations?

The opportunity’s translational focus aligns with discovery efforts that often span medicinal chemistry, screening platforms, pharmacology, animal models, and addiction biology. The program description explicitly points to connecting chemistry with screening and pharmacology to produce actionable compounds.

What problem or gap is NIDA trying to address with this RFA?

The announcement describes a common gap in addiction therapeutics: strong biological hypotheses and targets exist, but there is often not enough high-quality chemical matter to rigorously test targets or to launch a credible medication development path. This RFA is meant to help fill that gap through targeted synthesis and screening.

Where were the official requirements and full announcement provided?

The full announcement and official requirements were provided through the NIH grants portal link included in the notice.

Who should be contacted for technical access questions related to the posting?

Technical access questions were directed to the NIH Office of Extramural Research (OER) webmaster contacts listed in the posting.

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